elrockinMT

I didn't think it was that big of a deal either. Don't read too much into things in print sometimes............ I agree that we shouldn't be hard on Jon. Jon Garland has shown he is a competitor. He wants that ball every fourth day and be out there on the mound. That's the kind of players you want on a team with championship aspirations. I think he realizes and says so in fact that Loaiza is the ace of the staff. Maybe in a year or two Jon can make himself into the ace.

Will have to do some more checking but it may be the Sox on the ESPN Wed night game.

Paul Konerko for Tuesday

1) Who will win the series (CHW/MIN) (2 points)? The Sox 2) Will Esteban Loaiza earn his 20th victory (Y/N) (2 points)? Y 3) How many errors will the Sox make (4 points)? 1 4) How many earned runs will Jon Garland allow (4 points)? 3 5) Exactly how many innings will Bartolo Colon pitch (5 points)? 8 6) How many hits will Carlos Lee have for the series (5 points)? 6 7) What will be the Sox team batting average for the series (.010 either way) (4 points)? .295 8) Who will have more plate apperances, Sandy Alomar or Miguel Olivo (2 points)? Sandy 9) Who will lead the AL Central after the series (2 points)? The Sox 10) Which team will hit more doubles (CHW/MIN) (2 points)? The Sox TIEBREAKER: Total pitches thrown by Sox bullpen 29

Pitching in a garbage bag can't be any fun for anyone. They had the one big inning and that's what we need to guard against. Keep the Twinkies down and Loaiza should be able to do that.

I don't see the Sox players thinking that they will get help from someone else. You can't go into a championship final push with that kind of an attitude anyway and I am glad to see we aren't falling into that trap. I think the Tigers will play as hard as their talent will allow them too. They have some decent young pitching which you hope will at lesat give the Twins a run for it. Indians are the same, but have more advanced youngsters and can make a game of it with any team.

Thanks for letting me know, Cubkilla. I always liked Sirotka and Parque especially when they were pitching good. Like many players we follow as soon as they go South talent or physically wise we don't like them anymore. Lots of negative posts about Jim and Mike, but they gave it their all for us. Nature of the game is the fact an injury can happen at anytime and just basically ruin a guys career. Pitchers who have arm problems generally take 1/2 to 3 years to recover. I wonder if anyone will give Sirotka and Parque another shot or if they will even want to come back?

The Sox are playing inspired ball. I think we can sweep the twins. Remember we swept the Royals in KC when the bats all came alive at the same time. It can be done, if we can get these guys concentrated on producing as a team.

Maybe I missed it in this POST or another, but did you know that Jim Parque was just recently released by Tampa Bay?

I got to watch the Sunday game on WGN. I impressed with the way Buerhle kept coming back and also the aggressive play by the Sox. The defense was really good and I think Jose needs to be recognized for his hustle. Pitching wise I think the way that Garland, Buerhle, Loaiza and Colon have stepped up is impressive as a unit.

I totally absolutelty disagree with you on this we are ahead by 2 and need defense and so it hads all worked Olivo was 0-4 tonight with 4 K's. We brought up Burke to play as the 3rd catcher and the brass rave about his defense. Pinch hit for Olivo and bring in Burke or Alomar to catch the final inning. Olivo is almost inept at time with a bat in his hand and that is sad. He needs more experience granted in game situations, but with a pennant at stake you try to score runs and not let Olivo learn how to use the lumber. He has on ocassion showed us he has hiting potential, but far to often he has looked absolutely terrible. However, saying that I note that Big Hurt K'd 3 times himself and that ain't good. I wish Frank could see the benefit to just getting the base hit from time to time. It's great to see those 40 homers but there have been yeasr when he hit .330 with 40 plus homers. This year it's .265 or so and he can do better.

Bartolo Colon showed what an ace type pitcher is with his performance tonight. We had lost three in a row and he stepped up and pitched a complete game victory. I am glad to hear Kenny Williams talk about trying to resign Colon. I hope he can get it done.

Olivo has K'd 3 times tonight. He is the weakest link we have in the line up and it was a prime PH opportunity. At least Robbie lofted the ball into the OF to score Jose.

Yes, I think I heard him say that once or twice.

I have company over and have to sneak onto the computer to find out what's up with the Sox'. I se Hurt has struck out twice. He needs to shorten the swing vrs a knuckler and go for some hits rather than homers.

Good at bat by Valentin. 9 pitches leading off and he gets a walk off Wakefield.

Colon gets Ramirez to pop up for out #3. Is anyone able to actually watch the game? Radar on Colon?

Pop ups, ground outs and lazy flies. You can't score that way.

I'll be checking in from time to time. I understand that I was blamed for last nights loss so I am taking steps to make amends. I am weqring my Sox hat around the house tonight. Let's go get 'em Sox.

Isn't on early enough. I am also wondering if FOX dumped baseball till the last weekend so that they can broadcast football? There is not hardly a game offered anymore on Saturday or Sunday daytime. It used to be that you could get baseball over the "free" networks. I wish MLB would negotaite for a game on every night on either ESPN, FOX, WB or the 3/4 networks that still exist.

I think KW has made some unwise moves going back awhile now. I think sending Fogg and Wells both to the Pirates for Ritchie was a classic boo-boo. Foulke for Koch was a bomb. Many of us commented about how Foulke beat Koch in every category. But, KW has done some excellent moves too. Marte, R Alomar, Sullivan, et al were all good. I think you can forget Manuel going anywhere next year. He will be back with the Sox. The guy even has the Chicago press backing him now. It's amazing how a win streak does that. I hope we keep as many of these players as possible.

I always knew that deep inside Corg there was a soft spot for Colon. The guy probably wins because he is motivated by these little rhymes.

I am changing my PTC from Graffy to Joe Crede. I will be watching on WGN.

Joe Crede tonight in Boston

It's much harder to go with a 4 man rotation in the modern game. Pitchers don't get the benefits of illegal aids like they did back then. Pitchers spend about 30 pitches alone warming up these days & another 10 at least in betw innings. So a 110 pitch 7in outing is really over 200 pitches. If the SOX go 4 man, then you must limit each pitcher to 90 pitches & about 7in. That's about 160-180 throws per game. It's certainly possible if JM reads this, but then you need solid BP work for the remaining 2. OT games will hurt a lot. The whole issue with a 4-man rotation goes back to that very thing. In today's game pitchers are conditioned to 4 days rest and not 3. Can their arms hold up to pitching that game without the extra day of rest? There was a time that the Sox put out there on the mound the same major three hurlers and I don't remeber them ever missing a game: During the '67 pennat race for example it was Gary Peters, Joel Horlen and Tommy John and #4 was John Buzhardt, Cisco Carlos and Bruce Howard for the most part. We had a sensational bullpen with Locker, Wilhelm, McMahon and Wood. The knuckleballers could pitch a lot of innings. I don't see us with that strong of a pen nor do I think our guys can go without the extra rest, but maybe if they are limited to 6-7 innings and with wise use of the pen. I think our problem with Danny Wright is the fact he just hasn't rebounded physically, and maybe mentally, from the elbow problems in spring training.